Marvel; March 1979 
Cover by Bob Layton

Published and copyright by “The Old Man and the Sea Prince!”
Synopsis: Following a bizarre plane accident, Iron Man comes to blows with Sub-Mariner over an Atlantic island.

Writer: David Michelinie
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Bob Layton

Review: While it rarely reached the heights of the Claremont/Byrne X-Men or Miller’s Daredevil, David Michelinie and Bob Layton’s Iron Man was consistently better than most books on the spinner racks. Michelinie’s writing here is sophisticated and aimed at a more adult audience; his Tony Stark lives in world of sex, alcohol, paranoia, and betrayal. A young John Romita Jr. is still developing his own style, but it is inker Bob Layton who really provides the look of this book. “Consistent” is the best word to describe this run. “Consistent” and “good.”

Grade: B+

Cool factor: Iron Man vs. Sub-Mariner!
Not-so-cool factor: Iron Man vs. Sub-Mariner! Underwater! While Iron Man is drunk! (That’s going to end well, is it?)

Notable: First issue of the “Demon in a Bottle” storyline. … First appearance of Justin Hammer.

Character quotable: “… if those beautiful brown eyes could look up another martini for me, I’d be very grateful.” — Tony Stark, always ready to mix business and pleasure.

Copyright ©2016 Off the Wahl Productions, all rights reserved. Each week, T. Andrew Wahl takes a look at a Bronze Age Fantastic First. For more reviews like this one, check out Wahl’s website, SequentialReaction.com.